SUFFOLK police is planning to slash opening hours at public inquiry desks in its stations by nearly 100 hours every week - including the closure of one altogether - in a bid to save cash.

SUFFOLK police is planning to slash opening hours at public inquiry desks in its stations by nearly 100 hours every week - including the closure of one altogether - in a bid to save cash.

The force says it is taking the action as part of a programme of measures aimed at achieving “efficiency savings” of almost £2million next year and to improve its service.

The proposals are for hours to also be cut at desks in Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Lowestoft, Mildenhall and Newmarket police stations.

The decision has been made by the Force Management Board and Suffolk Police Authority has now been recommended to support the changes at a meeting on Friday.

A report to Suffolk Police Authority says data shows the hours of opening at many public inquiry desks does not match levels of demand.

Jacqui Cheer, temporary Deputy Chief Constable, said: “We know some inquiry desks are needing to close during advertised opening hours and staff at one inquiry office spend less than one hour in every ten, dealing with public visitors.

“This is not a good use of public money and police resources. To stay with the current opening hours we would have to take police officers off operational duties to staff reception areas, which our analysis show are not being widely visited during these times.”